Cardwell's school record helps 'Wolves top 'Cats

ELLENSBURG, Wash. ? Senior Rhea Cardwell tied the school record with 32 kills and the Alaska Anchorage volleyball team served out the last 12 points of the match Thursday to spring an upset of regionally ranked Central Washington, 25-17, 25-22, 17-25, 18-25, 15-2, at Nicholson Pavilion.

The victory clinched a winning season for the Seawolves (15-13, 7-8 GNAC), the program's first since 2003.

Emily Veenker led the Wildcats (15-12, 7-8), ranked ninth in the latest West Region poll, with 15 kills.

The Seawolves also got 11 kills and 12 digs from senior outside hitter Rachel Kidwell, plus a match-high 29 digs from junior libero Stacie Meisner, as they swept the season series with their second five-set win over the Wildcats. It also snapped a 5-match losing streak in Ellensburg.

After giving up a 2-games-to-none lead, the Seawolves led 3-2 early in the fifth set when CWU's Rachael Schurman banged her 10th and final kill. But that was as close as the Wildcats would get to completing their comeback as a CWU ball-handling error was followed by seven consecutive Seawolf kills ? five by Cardwell and two by Joanna Johnson ? to make it 11-2. Two service aces from setter Calli Scott (49 assists) and another kill from Cardwell on match point would end it.

Cardwell, an outside hitter from Prineville, Ore., tied the school record set by Cherie Knox in a 1989 road match against Regis. Having come into the match with a season mark of 4.31 kills per set and a career average of 3.87 kills per set, Cardwell has now clinched the school records in both of those categories as well.

The Seawolves will end their 2008 campaign Saturday when they take on 18th-ranked Western Washington (20-3, 12-3) at 1 p.m. AST in Bellingham, Wash.

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Players Mentioned

#10 Rhea Cardwell: OH; 5' 10"; Junior

#8 Joanna Johnson: OH; 5' 10"; Junior

#2 Rachel Kidwell: OH; 5' 10"; Junior

#14 Stacie Meisner: L; 5' 8"; Junior

#4 Calli Scott: S; 5' 8"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#10 Rhea Cardwell
: 5' 10"; Junior
: OH

#8 Joanna Johnson
: 5' 10"; Junior
: OH

#2 Rachel Kidwell
: 5' 10"; Junior
: OH

#14 Stacie Meisner
: 5' 8"; Junior
: L

#4 Calli Scott
: 5' 8"; Junior
: S